I read with incredulity that Italian scientists were convicted of manslaughter because according to the reports I read, they failed to predict an earthquake (which is impossible with today’s technology).

But as I read more I realized something else maybe was going on.

Here is the line that got me thinking over the decision and understanding the outrage but still disagreeing with the verdict:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9628248/Italy-earthquake-decision-head-of-disaster-body-quits-in-protest-at-LAquila-ruling.html

The government committee met after a series of small tremors in the preceding weeks had sown panic among local inhabitants – particularly after a resident began making worrying unofficial earthquake predictions.

Italy’s top seismologists were called in to evaluate the situation and the-then deputy director of the Civil Protection agency Bernardo De Bernardinis gave press interviews saying the seismic activity in L’Aquila posed “no danger”.
He advised local residents to relax with a glass of wine.

About 120,000 people were affected by the quake, which destroyed the city’s historic centre and medieval churches as well as surrounding villages.

If, the reporting is accurate, for seismologists to say there is nothing to worry about is very wrong. I know for example that the seismologists for the State of California always say they can’t predict an earthquake but urge everyone to have a preparedness drill and survival plan after an earthquake hits and to make homes as survivable as possible (stand in doorway arches, under strong dinning tables, get out of home, etc). But in this day and age there is no excuse for not knowing what to do in an earthquake zone if you live there and to be prepared for it.

If, IF, the seismologists were telling people not to worry and not to prepare even if they had no idea if an earthquake was pending, it does then kind of make me sympathize with the survivors and their case and I think this requires an overhaul of the Italian earthquake preparedness system but I don’t think it falls to the level of manslaughter.